"Ugh...!" The chains tighten around , Luceria oppressively binding as if determined not to let escape. "I've been waiting... just for my partner to appear..."
She utters words filled with ecstasy, but their aning is unclear. "Let go!" I struggle with all my might, but it's futile resistance. I couldn't move no matter how hard I tried.
"Sigh..." "Ugh?!" Suddenly, Luceria blows air into my ear, causing to lose strength and feel an unknown sense of sha.
"Relax, there's no use. Eventually, you'll enjoy the world with , so don't bother resisting, my partner." What is she talking about...? Her calling her partner, as if we're allies, is highly irritating.
"Who said I'm your partner?! Let go, now...?!" Ignoring Luceria's persuasions and shouting does as much good as a caged mouse howling – nothing will change. Part of might be halfway to accepting reality.
"Why am I your partner?" I protest, a natural question for sothing I don't want to acknowledge no matter what happens.
"Because I can feel it... a strong fate..." She blushes more in Marika's body, whispering in my ear in a suggestive tone. What is she saying...? I couldn't understand anything she's been saying.
"I felt there was sothing unusual about you when we first t... On that tragic day, when you tried to sacrifice yourself to seal , I realized it!" Her words deepen the mystery, raising more questions than answers.
"I'm sorry for putting you in a tough spot last ti... But my efforts to confirm it were continuously interrupted..." Her tone carries a tinge of regret, as if recalling a bittersweet mory, and she looks at with a wistful gaze.
And secondly, her words suggest a past familiarity with ... I was sure this was my first encounter with an ancient god, yet Luceria spoke to as if we had t before, which only added to my confusion. "The courage and spirit of sacrifice I felt from you... the kindness filling your inner self that I only saw right before I was sealed..."
Her continuous use of past tense was baffling, leaving unable to understand the situation. "From the mont I was trapped in the crystal, I've been thinking only of you, realizing you were the partner of fate I had glimpsed in the past..."
She hugs tighter, savoring my warmth as if settling into a peaceful rest, her expression relaxing as she closes her eyes. "Of course, you might view unfavorably due to these conflicts, and I understand why you would look at that way now. Luceria, the ancient being, trying to resolve the situation unilaterally and on her own terms.
"But I'll guide you slowly. Follow ... let's move forward together..." "Your appearance has brought the prophecy's fulfillnt closer, as my partner... be my support and strength."
A prophecy...? Muttering the word, bits of information vaguely co to mind. Hearing 'prophecy' helped gain so understanding of the situation. This was because I had a bit of knowledge about historical and ancient deities.
Luceria was a god who existed since ancient tis and beca corrupted. Traditionally, she was said to be a god of love and had a different na. According to records, the essence and nourishnt of Luceria's power were love. A prophecy stated that upon finding her true partner, she would awaken as a being beyond anyone's reach.
However, due to so reason, she fell from grace before she could find her partner and beca a target for purging. Eventually, she was eradicated by the gods of the new era before fulfilling her wish. This is all I know... So, is this situation unfolding because Luceria has chosen as her partner? Even though I realized why she had been looking at with such a warped desire, there were still unresolved doubts...
"Harold..." It was particularly about the way she talked, as if she knew from the past. She knew my na without having told her, as if we were old acquaintances. But no matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn’t recall ever eting her before. Why does she know ?
Smooch! "?!!" Suddenly, a provocative sensation distracts my thoughts, blurring the focus I was trying to maintain. The touch was so soft and gentle...
"Will you answer ?" The light kiss causes a flush of warmth on my face. "Wha... what?!" "You're going to be my partner; you are definitely my destiny. Just possessing you now fills with enough power to handle the universe..."
Her plea is now slightly sorrowful yet earnest. But my answer was already decided. "No." A short and clear response, without anything else to add.
"What...?" Luceria's face contorts in disbelief. Unable to accept it, but sohow understanding my reaction, she remains silent with a twisted expression.
"I ca here to stop you! And now you want to help you? That's absurd...!" Looking back, it was a bold answer to give before a divine being capable of easily snatching away a re human's life. But for so reason, I wasn’t afraid of the ancient god before .
Her expression darkens further. "Huh..." Deep in thought, she lets out a heavy sigh as if preparing to say sothing... "Well... I can understand your feelings." ...? Unexpectedly, she concedes.
"Sure, I threatened you before, so it's understandable that you'd hate . I was sowhat prepared for this." Her surprisingly cooperative tone catches off guard, and I can't help but look stunned. Why does she keep implying that we have a past together, when I don't rember anything? Thump! "Cough?!" My train of thought is suddenly cut off by a constricted breath.
"I never thought you would love entirely." Luceria, with a wicked smile, tightens her grip around my neck. "Hehe..." Her expression, inscrutable, revives a fear I had forgotten.
"If you had accepted , I really planned to give you everything... Despite the darkness, I intended to bring you a happiness incomparable to the past..."
Ting! Ting! Clank! Clank! As the chains break, new ones tightly bind my arms and legs, leaving immobilized as if strapped to an experintal table.
"Well... since you've rejected , I have no choice... The outco might be the sa, but the process will be different..." She licks her lips seductively, her blushing cheeks hinting at her intentions. The sense of impending dread is inescapable.
This is still Marika's body... If I don't respect her wishes, what will happen to Marika...
Thud! Thud! Thud! "Don't be so scared... I'll give you pleasures you've never experienced in life ♡" I struggle futilely, gritting my teeth against the sensations coursing through as I run my fingers over my chest.
"You're cute~ Not a bad reaction, it's sowhat thrilling to see such a small prey resist... ♡" But...
"Uh...?" Overwheld by an indescribable euphoria and sinking into a deep, unknowable void, I look into her glowing amber eyes and feel my strength fading. As if under a spell...
"Leave it to , it's my first ti too, but I'll guide you well..." My ability to think rationally is slipping away... Why is this happening?
The desire to rge with those approaching lips grows... "I love you... ♡" My body... "Let's move forward together." Entrust and... want...
Kaboom!! But that strange sensation, creeping up like drowsiness, is suddenly shattered by a booming sound in my ears. "Ice Burst!!" A voice filled with hostility and courage reaches ...
"Uh?!" Luceria, struck by the direct hit of the cold magic, stumbles backward. "Huh?!" My rationality abruptly returns, and I feel embarrassed for the thoughts I had just entertained.
"Harold, are you okay?!!" A familiar voice cos from the entrance where I had co in. "Aris, Arsia!" The won who promised to follow had arrived.
"Wait, I’ll free you in a mont!" Aris rushes towards and breaks the darkened chains with her magic. "Luceria..." And Arsia stares intently at Luceria, exchanging a look full of various emotions.
"Arsia... so, you've woken in that body and learned emotions by now." Despite being hit by powerful magic, Luceria, inhabiting Marika's body, dusts herself off and rises effortlessly.
"Luceria, today I will erase you from this world and cut off all the chains of evil you’ve oppressed..." Arsia, bearing a resemblance to her, openly shows her hostility.
"You'll soon lose consciousness, and when you wake up again... you'll see united with my partner and crumble." However, Luceria is the complete opposite, exuding an air of ease and vulnerability as she slowly steps forward.
"Ice Burst! Fire End! Great Nova!" She is bombarded with a series of large-scale spells, an assault fierce enough to collapse the underground facility.
But... Whoosh! "OFLI...?!" With a re gesture, Luceria nullifies the magic, as if nothing had happened. She wasn't called a god for nothing. "Did you think the creator of ancient magic couldn’t dispel such rudintary spells?"
As Arsia hesitates, biting her lip and maintaining her guard, it's clear she needs help. "Harold, can you stand up?" With Aris's help, I get to my feet. It's uncertain whether using all my magical power in this cramped space, compared to the surface, is a good idea, but I have to try.
"Yes, but I think the three of us might not be enough..." Aris offers so comfort in response to my concern, bringing sowhat hopeful news. "Actually, we’ve inford the various gods about our situation, and soon their direct knights, the strongest and most loyal servants of the gods, will co to assist us. Let's hold on until then!"
She speaks confidently, motivating us as she eyes the ancient god returned. I had forgotten, but indeed, besides Lord Morione, other gods were involved in investigating the heretics related to the academy. So, the possibility of reinforcents was high.
But then... Ting! Ting! Ting!! The sudden sound of tal resonating fills the room. "Hmm?" "....?" Everyone falls silent, confused by the source of the noise.
Ting! Ting! Ting!! The unexpected turn of events leaves the room echoing with the sa sound for a while... "Is that... coming from the entrance?" Luceria’s comnt makes us all listen intently, and indeed, the sound seems to be coming from the direction she entered.
Could it be the reinforcents have already arrived? I eagerly fix my gaze on the entrance, hoping... "Luceria..." A familiar girl appears.
"That girl is definitely..." Her passionate red hair contrasts with the hatred-filled eyes. "I’ve co to repay my debt from before..."
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